KUALA LUMPUR: Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd has conducted 640 drug tests on RapidKL bus drivers since January.
Its chief executive officer, Mohd Azam Omar, said only one of its drivers had tested positive for drug abuse in that time.
He said the company took a serious view of drug use amongst its employees, especially its drivers, and regularly brought in the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada) to conduct random drug tests.
“The number of drug tests now is higher than last year, when 588 tests were conducted and five drivers were found to be under the influence of drugs. Drivers who test positive for drug use are suspended from work immediately,” he said, adding that if proven that they had been taking illegal substances, they would be sacked.
Azam said, however, that if the drivers could provide a letter from doctors stating that the narcotics they were taken were prescription drugs, action would not be taken against them.
“The management will not compromise in this issue. As drivers, the safety of passengers is their responsibility,” he said.
Azam was commenting on the case of the driver of a RapidKL bus which crashed into at least seven vehicles in Jalan Ampang on Thursday.
The driver of the vehicle was later reported to have tested positive for drug use.
Azam said Rapd Bus was currently coming up with an estimation of the damage caused in the incident.
“We are still coming up with a figure for the damage caused in the incident and the impact cost which arose from it. The owners of these vehicle can contact us at suggest@rapidkl.com.my for further details about the process for claiming insurance from us,” he said.